Fender MIC reducing amount of brands?

[electrofaro]

I, for one, think it's great to see people into older guitar designs, Gretsch included.

+1

Hey, Charvel's been around since 1974... that's pretty old

[deaconblues]

I don't think the problem is so much Fender's as it is the musical instrument industry's as a whole. Reportedly industry-wide sales are down 13% since the recession and have not recovered.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/busin ... d=all&_r=0

[Grey]

I'm going to assume there's a bit of sarcasm there, so I'm going to remind you that they could be playing Charvels. It could be worse.

Lot's of sarcasam with a dash of cynicism. I was just suprised to see the audience Fender has been targeting with Gretsch.

[electrofaro]

I don't think the problem is so much Fender's as it is the musical instrument industry's as a whole. Reportedly industry-wide sales are down 13% since the recession and have not recovered.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/busin ... d=all&_r=0

As I said, Fender lost market share... less of a smaller pie still means Fender is losing ground.

[8mileshigher]

Maybe its a sign of the times and Fender "cutbacks" but there were no give-aways at the Fender display area at NAMM this year.

The other company that was noticeably reduced in scale with big dollar cutbacks at NAMM was Roland. Use to be they had the first venue when you entered the NAMM registration area and all the pedestrian traffic was routed through Roland's own mini-arena to get to the main NAMM arena. Roland's footprint must have been reduced in size by 60% this year and they were located in a display off the beaten path. Disappointing, there was no hands-on testing allowed of Roland, Boss and other corporate brands gear this year. (You can better test out Boss pedals etc. at a Sam Ash store than at NAMM). And Roland had a lot of empty space in their much reduced display room footprint. So a lot less floorspace, gear and people for the Roland Group at NAMM.

[rickenbrother]

PM sent!

Thanks Jeff! I didn't know that FMIC acquired KMC.
After reading that thread, you wonder why I stay away from that site?!

[jps]

You read the whole thing, already?

[cassius987]

Hey Jeff, can I get that PM too? Curious.

[cjj]

Oh, just post the link here, it's allowed to post links to other fora now...

[rickenbrother]

You read the whole thing, already?

I skipped over alot of the nonsense. It was giving me a headache.

[rickenbrother]

Disappointing, there was no hands-on testing allowed of Roland, Boss and other corporate brands gear this year. (You can better test out Boss pedals etc. at a Sam Ash store than at NAMM). And Roland had a lot of empty space in their much reduced display room footprint. So a lot less floorspace, gear and people for the Roland Group at NAMM.

Several manufacturers had limited or reduced amounts of display/hands-on test gear. Lots of empty floor space in their booths though. The big thing at NAMM was the ukelele. Ukeleles almost everywhere, followed by banjos!

[jps]

Oh, just post the link here, it's allowed to post links to other fora now...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/all-g ... er-946496/

[electrofaro]

Ukeleles almost everywhere

It's amazing how many brands expanded their Uke line, or came up with one in the last few months. Where did this craze come from?

[blueflamerick]

Ukeleles almost everywhere

It's amazing how many brands expanded their Uke line, or came up with one in the last few months. Where did this craze come from?

I blame the damn punk hippie thing that's going on. Every festival my band plays at is full of string/jug bands full of dirty hillbillies full of tattoos and facial piercings.

[electrofaro]

dirty hillbillies full of tattoos and facial piercings.

Sounds more like the local warehouse here at work... each their own, I guess